Water heating and circulating system



NOV. 28, 1933. J FOLEY 1,937,335

WATER HEATING AND CIRCULATING SYSTEM Filed March 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JOh N J. FZLEY Maw;

ATTORNEY NOV. 28, 1933- ,J FOLEY 1,937,335

WATER HEATING AND CIRCULATING SYSTEM Filed March 4, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q} I b a Q N" INVENTOR 1 JOHN J. FOLEY \=J ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1933 PATENT oer-ice WATER-HEATING AND OIRCULAT'ING 2 7 SYSTEM .lohn J. Foley, Bronir, Application March 1,. 1932. Serial No. 5536,7671

'5 Claims. (Cl; 122 -32) This invention relates to improvements in heating apparatus and has particular reference to a water heating and circulating system.

An object of the invention is to provide an im- 5 proved system of practical and efficient construction wherein steam and hot water from a boiler are utilized to heat water in a storage tank. and wherein the heated water is maintained at an even temperature for distribution throughout the 110 system.

. Another object is to employ thesource of water supply for the storage tank as a means for clean ing both the tank andthe heating coils therein.

The aboveand other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea. 5 a

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a water heating and circulating system constructed in accordance'with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. c Figure 3 is a plan view of the steam coil locate within the storage tank. g I

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the hot water coil. Figure 5 is a similar view of the steam and hot water return, and the flushing coil used to cleanse the'storage tank, and r Figure 6 is a transverse section through the use in conjunction with the heating system of a' building and is designed to utilize the hot water and steam generated in the boiler of such a sys-- tem for the purpose of providing a heated water supply to be circulated throughout said'building. To this end there is provided aistorage tank 10 of suitable capacity, the supplyfor which is obtained through a pipe 11 connected to asuitable source and extended into the tank through the bottom thereof, the flow through said pipe being regulated by a valve 12. The water, which is heated in the tank 10 in the manner to appear in the course of description, circulates through the system by passing upwardly through the riser 13 extending from the top of the tank and returning to the latter through the branch pipes 14. The latter pipes, three of which are shown, are joined to the common return pipe 15 which leads into the tank 10'and which has interposed therein an electrically driven circulating pump conventionally indicated at 16. Two .valvesl'l in the 5 pipe 15 and on oppositesidesof the pump are used to control the flow through said pipe and .to render the pump inoperative for the purpose of repair ing the same when necessary. When the valves .17 are closed the'flow from the pipes 14 and 5 through the pipe 15 maybe by-passed through desirable to render said pump inoperative.

the return pipe 31 and the flow through vthis pipe the branch pipe 18 which iscoupled to the pipe 15 around said pump and which is provided with a valve 19 which is opened only when the flow is being by-passed. The circulating pump 16 is connected through conductors 20 and 21 to a source of electrical supply and at times during the operation of thesystem, such as when the consumption of hot water is at-or near a minimum, it is To this end there is connectedto the conductor 20 a thermostat conventionally shown at 22 which is controlled by the temperature of the water passing through one of the branch pipes 14. This ther mostat is regulated so as to operate when the temperature of the water in the pipe 14 reaches apredetermined point and the operationof the thermostat is'utilized to open a switch, conventionally shown at 23, to disconnect the pump from tively and located within the tank 10. .The ends 5' of said coils remote from the pipes 25 and 26 are connected by the vertical pipes 29 utilized for the purpose of draining the water or" condensation from the. steam coil 27 into the hot water flowing through the coil 28 and. from thence into thereturn coil 30 which is connected to and located below the coil 28. Said coil 30 is joined to the water chamber of the boiler 2e by means of into said boiler is controlled by'avalve 32. A suitable air vent valve 33 is connected to. the steam coil 2'7 through the top of the tank 10 so-as to permit of the escape of any air within said coil. The pipe 26 is connected to the boiler 24 at a point below the level of the water therein and with the valves 34 controlling the flow through said pipe in open position it will be apparent that a continuous circulation of hot'water through the coil 28 and into the return pipe 31 will be effected, thus heating the water within the tank 10. This heating action will be supplemented by the flow of steam from the boiler past the opened valve 35 in the pipe 25 and into the coil 27 within said tank. The water of condensation from the latter coil then drains downwardly through the pipes 29 and into the return coil 30'.- -In order to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank 10 at a more or less constant level and toprevent said temperature from exceeding a predetermined maximum a thermostatic regulating device generally indicated by the numeral 36 is disposed upon the tank 10 and upon operation thereof the regulating valves, conventionally shown at 3'7 and 38 and connected respectively to 29 the pipes 25 and 26, will be actuated to shut off the flow of steam and hot water from the boiler 24 into the respective coils.

Means are also provided in connection with the invention for utilizing the how from the source of supply to the tank 10 for the purpose of cleansing said tank and the coils 27, 28 and 30 of ac.

cumulations of sediment incident to the operation of systems of this character. To this end there is mounted within the tank 10 adjacent the bottom thereof a perforated flushing coil 39, one 7 end of which is connected to a branch pipe 40 coupled to the main supply pipe 11 and having a valve All therein which is closed during the normal operation of the system. A second branch pipe 42 having a normally closed valve 43 therein connects the pipe 11 with the pipe 25. When it is desired to clean the tank 10 and the various coils therein the valves 12, 32, 34 and 35 are closed and the valves 41, 43, 44 and 45 are opened, the latter two valves controllin respectively the drain for the tank 10 and the return pipe 31.

With the valves in the pcsitionsstated, water.

from the main source or" supply will flow from the pipe 11 into the perforated coil 39 from'which it will be sprayed over the bottom of the tank to wash the sediment therein through the drain in which the valve 44 is located. Said flow will also be directed through the branch 42 into the steam coil 27,-then downwardly through the pipes 29 into the coils 28, and 30 from whence the flow will pass outwardly through the return pipe 31 and past the open valve 45, thus completing the drainage of said coils. Following the completion of the cleansing operation the positions of the various valves referred to may be reversed so as to again fill the tank and start the circulation of hot water and steam through the coils within said tank. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a boiler, a storage tank, a pipe for feeding water from a source of water supply into said tank, steam and hot water coils in said tank, separate means for feeding steam and hot water from said boiler to the respective coils, a common return to said boiler for the condensation and hot water in said coils, and a connection between the first named pipe and the steam feeding means'provided with valve means for directing said water supply through said steam and hot water coils and into said common return. a

2. In combination, a boiler having a water space and a steam space in communication with each other and respectively containing water and steam at substantially'the same temperature, a water storage tank, sets of steam and hot water coils in said tank, means to supply steam and hot water separately from said boiler to the respective sets of coils to heat the water in said tank, and a common return for the hot water from the hot water coil and condensation from the steam coil to the water space of said boiler, said hot water coils being positioned to heat the incoming water in said storage tank and said steam coils being positioned to heat the outgoing water from said storage tank, the heating. hot Water and steam being both fed to their coils at substantially the same temperature from the boiler but the steam having a much greater heat exchange capacity than the hot Water whereby assurance will be had that the outgoing water from the storage tank will be at a temperature predetermined by the boiler. a Y

3. In combination, a boiler having a water space and a steam space in communication with each other and respectively containing water and steam at substantially the same temperature, a water storage tank, an upper set of steam coils within said tank, a lower set of hot water coils also in said tank, feed pipes connecting said. boiler with said sets of coils, a return pipe joining said lower set of coils to said boiler, and means to conduct the condensation in said steam coils into said return pipe, said hot water coils being positionedto heat the incoming water in said storage tank and said steam coils being positioned to heat the outgoing water from said storage tank, the heating hot Water and steam being both fed to their coils at substantially the same temperature from the boiler but the steam having a much greater heat exchange capacity than the hot water whereby assurance will be had that the outgoing water from the storage tank will be at a temperature predetermined by the boiler.

4. In combination, a boiler having a water space and a steam space in communication with forated coil for directing said water supply into the latter to flush the bottom of said tank, said hot water coils being positioned to heat the incoming water in said storage tank and said steam coils being positioned to heat the outgoing water from said storage tank, the heating hot water and steam being both fed to their coils at substantially the same temperature from the boiler but the steam having a much greater heat exchange capacity thanthe hot water whereby assurance will be had that the outgoing water from the storage tank will be at a temperature predetermined by the boiler.

5. In combination, a boiler having a water space and a steam space in communication with each other and respectively containing water and steam at substantially the same temperature, a storage tank, a pipe for feeding water from a source of water supply into said tank, steam and hot water coils in said tank, separate means for feeding steam and hot water from said boiler to the respective coils, a common return to said boiler for the condensation and hot water in positioned to heat the incoming water in said storagetank and said steam coils being positioned to heat the outgoing water from said storage tank, the heating hot water and steam being both fed to their coils at substantially the same temperature from the boiler but the steam having 

